Black Sabbath’s final chapter saw only three of its original members performing together: vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, and bassist Geezer Butler. Drummer Bill Ward, however, was absent due to contract disputes in 2012. As a result, Ward did not participate in the band’s last studio album 13 nor appear during their final tour.
Recently, there has been speculation about a potential one-off reunion show featuring the original lineup. Ozzy Osbourne has expressed interest in such a performance, and it seems that both Iommi and Butler are on board as well. Bill Ward has also shown his support for the idea. But what could this final performance actually look like?
During an interview with Lifeminute, Geezer Butler shared Osbourne’s vision for the show, revealing that Ozzy hopes to make it part of his hypothetical farewell tour. Butler explained, “I very much [there would ever be a full-on reunion]. Maybe a one-off show. Ozzy was talking to me about when he does his farewell concert – which he still wants to do, he’s dying to still get out there and play – and he suggested at his very final concert, for the four of us to get up onstage and maybe do three or four songs together. And that would be it, finished. But definitely no more tours. It would be just a one-off thing.”
As of now, these discussions are purely speculative. The only details that have surfaced about Osbourne’s potential farewell concert came from his wife, Sharon Osbourne, who mentioned earlier this year that the show could take place across two nights at Villa Park, the stadium in Aston, Birmingham. If that happens, it’s possible that each night could be divided into separate acts—one dedicated entirely to Ozzy Osbourne’s solo material and the other to Black Sabbath’s legendary hits.